Secret Service wants to build $8M fake White House

[jakeXT]

Source: The Hill

In response to a series of major security lapses, the Secret Service wants lawmakers to provide $8 million to build a model White House.

The embattled agency is requesting the funds to build a scale replica of the White House in the Washington, D.C., suburb of Beltsville, Md., to better train agents to protect the presidential mansion, according to The New York Times.

Secret Service Director Joseph Clancy will make the pitch to members of Congress during a House Appropriations Committee hearing on Tuesday.

“The Secret Service currently uses a rudimentary, not-to-scale simulation of the north grounds of the White House, using bike barricades to act as the fencing,” Clancy will say during prepared remarks, which were obtained by the Times. “There are no structures, vehicle gates, lighting or other aids to enhance the training simulations.”

Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/235916-secret-service-wants-to-build-8m-fake-white-house

[LiberalEsto]

1. What, for target practice? nt

[bigworld]

2. You know, they could rent this out for parties and quickly recoup the $8 mil.

Just a thought.

[riversedge]

11. or use a TV set--not bad ideas. make some money off the tax money spent

[YOHABLO]

3. Oh yeah right. As a decoy for the terrorists. How about an inflatable one?

[Enrique]

4. that may confuse the drunk agents n/t

[jwirr]

13. And I can't see how this is going to stop the drinking.

[Blue_Tires]

5. Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare?

[Politicalboi]

6. They need a video game

These same clowns probably have no problem remembering maps in games, so why not have the "official" game. Every month they do a training mission with different scenarios.

[SoCalMusicLover]

7. We're A Bunch Of Fuckups, So Give Us Some More $$$$$$ Please

nt

[Orrex]

8. They originally planned to build a fake Congress

but then they realized that we don't need another one.

[Thor_MN]

9. Share one with Hollywood.

[dolphinsandtuna]

10. when did the Secret Service change from heroes to the Keystone Kops

[KamaAina]

12. Finally! Someplace for Ted Cruz to live.

[mpcamb]

14. Maybe we could spend the 8 million finding someone to do their job adequately instead.

[nilram]

15. I thought this was going to be The Onion or Borowitz, but nooo, reality strikes again

[Botany]

16. How about doing their jobs at the real White House and around the POTUS and his family?

And if anybody doesn't think they can do that then they can all quit and or
be fired and replaced w/better people.

[project_bluebook]

17. I could paint my house white

and let them have it for 4 mil.

[NV Whino]

18. House of Cards could rent their set in off season.

[FailureToCommunicate]

19. Tell 'em forget the $8 million, just watch the dang movie...

[davidpdx]

28. That was a fairly decent movie

[FailureToCommunicate]

29. Most movies with Morgan Freeman are. But I mentioned it for all the scenes of secret passageways

that the President's kid knew about. Figured the 'Secret' Service could use a brush up.

[davidpdx]

31. I remember that

If those are real they'd be cool to see in person.

[mopinko]

20. ffs. go to hell. fire them all. call in the marines.

so sick of these assholes. just do your fucking jobs. fire some of these fuckers. like the drunks.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

24. Lol. Have you ever MET a Marine????

[Big_Mike]

21. These guys and girls are definitely in a position where you MUST train as you would fight

This is an eminently reasonable idea, that should be constructed quickly. This facility would allow the Service to have a location where the individuals can rehearse as teams what actions need to be taken under various scenarios. You CANNOT do that training at the White House - - what would the public reaction be to the USSS firing blanks as supposed invaders along Pennsylvania Avenue?

To train guard personnel to cover contingencies, you rehearse, rehearse, rehearse until actions become near muscle memory. The supervisors require the training MORE than the individual guards, with actual people reacting to the guidance put out by the command post. There will be epic fails as this begins, with the failure rate lowering and lowering until the success rates are raised until you react correctly each time. If they have a facility built to scale, they can train and succeed. Again, you cannot do this training at the White House. Failure is totally unacceptable. What if some crazed idiot came through and got access to one of the President's children?

This is the most sensible budgetary request I have ever seen in Washington. It should be approved immediately, and go into service at the first opportunity.

[DeSwiss]

23. Then they'll need to add.....

...some late night parties, plenty of alcohol, several government cars (cheap ones - ck. surplus at GM-Detroit) and a few concrete security barricades. Oh, and let's not forget the official law enforcement field sobriety test kits. That'll make it truly authentic.

- And up-to-the-minute. Literally.

[Adrahil]

25. Yeah, I know that's funny...

But I agree that this isn't a bad idea. Having agents know the layout of the grounds through training, and the physical layout of the buildings is good. This is a good proposal and shouldn't be dismissed out of hand due to the other issues at the SS.

[joshcryer]

22. Maybe they should just stop drinking on the job.

[Vinca]

26. They should spend the 8 million on detox.

[myrna minx]

27. Does this price tag include the booze and prostitutes or do we need special riders for that?

How the mighty have fallen, into the drunk tank.

Do you need a replica to not to let a guy scale a wall - right in front of tourists- and run in the front door? Do you need a replica to know not to allow an unknown person with a gun into an elevator with the President? Do you need a replica to not get drunk and plow into a crime scene with the company car?

[FailureToCommunicate]

30. As a taxpayer, may I humbly suggest they practice at the REAL White House, then MAYBE there

would be enough of them present to, you know, actually thwart an incursion.

Or would more of 'em just make the situation worse?